Reclosable dispensing package



Oct. 13, 1964 w. EVANS RECLOSABLEDISPENSING PACKAGE Filed Sept. 26, 1961 GEORGE W. EVANS United States Patent 3,152,727 RECLOSABLE DISPENSING PACKAGE v George W. Evans, Madison, Wis., assignor to Oscar Mayer & Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 140,828 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-407) This invention relates to packaging and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a package of the type which is provided with a reclosable dispensing opening permitting the contents to be used as needed or desired.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a combination end closure and dispensing device for incorporation in a package of the type which is characterized by a tube-like container of flexible film material having its end portions gathered and sealed so as to form normally permanent end closures with the dispensing device being adapted to form a supplemental end seal and having a removable and replaceable cap portion for reclosing the dispensing opening which results when the permanent and supplemental seals are broken.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a package of the type which comprises a quantity of a flowable product enclosed in a tube-like container formed of a relatively thin flexible film material and having its ends gathered and sealed by pressed metal bands, and a product dispensing device secured on one end of the filled container which includes a cone-shaped band forming member encircling the container end adjacent the metal sealing band and having guide forming means adjacent the free end to facilitate cutting off the closure forming portions so as to provide an opening for dispensing the product and a readily removable and replaceable cap member adapted to be placed on the outer end of the cone-shaped member so as to provide for reclosing the dispensing opening.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a package comprising a tube-like container of relatively thin transparent film material filled with a flowable product and having its opposite ends gathered into axially extending closures which are each encircled by a sealing band member of relatively hard bendable metal and a supplemental closure and product dispensing device in the form of a collar having the general shape of a truncated cone secured over one end of the container with the gathered end portion of the container projecting through the smaller end of the collar so that the gathered end portion and its sealing band member may be cut off to provide a dispensing opening of a size determined by the size of the smaller end of the device, and with the device having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation for holding thereon a closure cap or other attachment which has a skirt with the free edge thereof adapted to snap over the shoulder on the collar member.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pack: age of the type described wherein the collar member of the supplemental closure device has a guide forming peripheral groove in the exterior wall adjacent the end with the small opening to facilitate severance of the end closure portions which are disposed beyond the guide forming groove.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the package which is shown by way of illustration in the accompany- FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a package which incorpoing drawings wherein: rates the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the package; 7

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIGURE M 3,152,727 lgfi Patented Oct. 13, 1964 2, to an enlarged scale, and with portions shown in elevation';

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the method of opening the package; and

FIGURE 5 is a View partly in vertical section illustrating the package with part of its contents removed and the dispensing opening reclosed.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a package 10 which embodies the principal features of the invention and which is particularly adapted for marketing a product in a fluid or semi-fluid condition with provisions for dispensing the product through an opening formed in the one end of the package.

The package 10 comprises a product container 11 which is in the form of a tubular section having its margins at the ends 12 and 13 gathered or constricted to form axially extending closure portions 14 and 15 which are permanently sealed, preferably, by encircling the gathered or constricted portions with tightly pressed metal ties or bands 16 and 17. A product 18 of fluid, semi-fluid or paste-like consistency, such as, spreads for sandwiches or hors doeuvres, various other food products, pastes of various kinds, or the like, is enclosed in the container prior to the closing of one or both ends of the container.

A supplemental closure forming and dispensing device or assembly 20 is secured on the one end 13 of the container 11 which includes a collar member 21 of plastic or other relatively flexible material having a truncated cone shape with an outwardly flaring skirt or flange forming portion 22 which is adhered by a suitable adhesive or other sealing means to the exterior surface of the folded or gathered end 13 of the container 11. The outermost end portion of the collar member 21 is apertured at 23 to accommodate the sealing band 17 which extends through the aperture 23. The end edge of the collar member is in the form of a bead 24 which provides a guide for a cutting tool to facilitate opening the end of the package by cutting off the end of the collar member and along with it the end of the gathered closure portion 15 which carries the sealing band member 17. The collar member 21 is provided with a circumferential rib or external shoulder formation 25 spaced inwardly of the edge 24 for securing thereon a readily removable and replaceable closure cap 26 which has a peripheral internal shoulder formation 27 on the inner edge of the skirt portion 28 adapted to snap over the shoulder formation 25 on the collar 21.

The container 11 is preferably formed from a relatively thin film of extruded plastic material, for example, Pliofilm, polyethylene, Saran, or similar material of a thickness sufficient to withstand the squeezing pressure necessary to dispense the product through the restricted opening at the end of the package. Other materials may be employed, the exact nature of the tube forming material depending upon the character of the product 18. The container may be conveniently formed and filled with the desired product in accordance with the disclosure in Patent No. 2,831,302, dated April 22, 1958.

The cone-shaped collar member 21 of the dispensing assembly 20 which forms a reinforcement for the end 13 of the package is preferably formed by molding from a suitable plastic, for example, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylyene. The cap 26 may be molded of the same material. These members may, however, be formed of other materials such as paper, foil, laminates or paper, foil, or plastic film or any other suitable material which is relatively rigid and which may be cut with shears or a sharp knife. Any suitable adhesive may be employed to secure the collar member 21 in place on the end of the container 11 depending upon the materials from which the container 11 and the collar 21 are formed. Also, the collar member 21 may be in the form of a cone or it may be formed on the sealed end of the container by a dipping or coating operation, which, of course, eliminates the aperture 23 and results in the member 21 completely covering the gathered closure 15 and sealing band 17. The cap and the collar member may have mating threads so as to provide for a screw threaded connection between these members. Also, the cap 26 may be replaced by any other attachment such as a pattern forming nozzle for dispensing a material for decorating pastry, or the like.

In using the package the cap 26 is removed from collar member 21 and a shear 29 (FIGURE 4) or any other suitable cutting tool is employed to snip off the end of the collar member 21, the out being made between the edge bead 24 and the shoulder 25 with the bead 24 serving as a guide for the cutting operation. The product 18 may then be dispensed through the resulting opening 30 (FIGURE by applying a squeezing pressure to the body of the container 11. When it is desired to reclose' the package the cap 26 may be snapped on over the shoulder 25 thus forming a neat and effective reclosure member for the package which affords complete protection for the portion of the contents which remains in the container.

While particular materials and specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the package illustrated, it will be understood that other materials and different details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin flexible film material enclosing a quantity of a flowable product and having its opposite ends each gathered into an axially extending closure portion encircled by a sealing band member of relatively hard bendable metal, a dispensing device of severable material in the form of a collar having the general shape of a truncated cone secured to the exterior wall at one end of the container with the gathered end portion of the container projecting through the smaller end of the collar so that said gathered end portion and its sealing band member may be cut off with a portion of the smaller end of said collar to provide a dispensing opening of a size corresponding to the size of the smaller end of the collar, said collar having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation, and a readily removable closure cap having a skirt adapted to be snapped over said shoulder formation, said collar being of a material having substantial rigidity and retaining its shape when severed by a cutting blade whereby to reinforce the end of the container and provide a funnel-like product dispensing member thereon.

2. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin, flexible film material filled with a flowable product and having an end thereof gathered into an axially extending closure encircled by a sealing band member of relatively hard, bendable metal, a dispensing device of severable material in the form of a collar having the general shape of a truncated cone secured to portions of the exterior wall at the end of the container and encompassing the gathered end portion of the container so that said gathered end portion and its sealing band member may be cut off with a portion of the end of said collar to provide a dispensing opening at the outer end of the collar, said collar having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation, and a readily removable closure forming member of substantially rigid material having a skirt adapted to be snapped over said shoulder formation, said collar being of a material having substantial rigidity and retaining its shape when severed by a cutting blade whereby to reinforce the end of the container and provide a funel-like product dispensing member thereon.

3. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin, flexible material enclosing a quantity of a flowable product and having an end thereof gathered into an axially extending closure, at supplemental end closure device of severable material in the form of a collar having the general shape of a cone secured in encompassing relation to portions of the exterior wall at one end of the container with the gathered end portion of the container at the smaller end of the collar so that said gathered end portion may be cut off with a portion of the smaller end of the collar to provide a dispensing opening, said collar being formed of a material having substantial rigidity and which is adapted to retain its normal shape when severed with a cutting blade, said collar having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation, and a readily removable closure forming member having a skirt adapted to be snapped over said shoulder formation.

4. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin, flexible material enclosing a flowable product and having an end thereof gathered into an axially extending closure with a closure sealing means, a supplemental dispensing device of severable material in the form of a collar having the general shape of a cone secured to the exterior wall at the end of the container with the gathered and sealed end portion of the container at the smaller end of the collar so that said gathered and sealed end portion may be cut off with a portion of the smaller end of said collar to provide a dispensing opening of a size determined by the smaller end of the collar, said collar being formed of a material having substantial rigidity and which is adapted to retain its normal shape when severed with a cutting blade, said collar having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation, and a readily removable cap forming member having a skirt adapted to be snapped over said shoulder formation.

5. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin, flexible, transparent film material enclosing a quantity of a flowable product and having its opposite ends each gathered into an axially extending closure encircled by a sealing band member, a dispensing device of severable material in the form of a cone-shaped body member which is secured over one end of the container with the gathered end portion of the container and the sealing band member at the smaller end of the body member so that the end of said body member and said gathered end closure may be cut off inwardly of the sealing band member with a portion of the smaller end of the collar to provide a dispensing opening, said body member being formed of a material having suflicient rigidity to maintain its shape when severed by a cutting blade and to provide the end of the package with a funnellike reinforcement and product dispensing member, a readily removable closure forming cap of substantially rigid material having a skirt for encompassing the smaller end of said body member, and readily separable frictional connecting means between the body member and the skirt of the cap.

6. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin, flexible, transparent film material enclosing a quantity of a flowable product and having an end thereof gathered into an axially extending closure portion encircled by a sealing band member of relatively hard bendable metal, a dispensing device of severable material in the form of a collar having the general shape of a truncated cone adhesively secured in encompassing relation over one end of the container with the gathered end portion of the container projecting through the smaller end of the collar so that said gathered end portion and its sealing band member may be cut off with a portion of the smaller end of said collar to provide a dispensing opening of a size corresponding to the size of the smaller end of the said collar being formed of a material having substantial rigidity so that said collar constitutes an end reinforcement for the container which retains its funnel-forming shape for dispensing the product when the gathered end portion of the container is cut off,

said collar having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation at its smaller end and a second exterior shoulder formation spaced inwardly in the direction of the package from said end shoulder formation which is of greater external diameter than said end shoulder formation, and a readily removable closure cap having a'slrirt of substantial depth so as to form a tunnel-like formation around the opening with aresilient internal shoulder at the mouth of-said cap which is adapted to be snapped over said inwardly spaced shoulder formation.

7. A reclosable dispensing package comprising a tubelike container of relatively thin, flexible, transparent film material enclosing a quantity of a fiowable product and having one of its ends gathered into an axially extending closure portion encircled by a sealing band member of relatively hard bendable metal, a dispensing device of severable material in the form of a collar having the general shape of a truncated cone secured over one end of the container with the gathered end portion of the container projecting through the smaller end of the collar so that said gathered end portion and its sealing band member may be cut off with a portion of the smaller end of said collar to provide a dispensing opening of a size corresponding to the size of the smaller end of the'collar, said collar having a relatively thin walled skirt portion and being formed of a material havingrsubstantial rigidity so that the skirt portion reinforces the wall of the container ti adjacent said dispensing opening and the collar maintains the funnel forming shape at the container end when the end portion of the collar is removed by a cutting blade, said collar having an exterior peripheral shoulder formation at its smaller end which serves as a guide for cutting cit the gathered end portion or" the container and a second exterior shoulder formation spaced axially from said end shoulder formation which is'of greater external diameter than said end shoulder formation, and a readily removable closure cap having a skirt with a resilient internal shoulder at the mouth of said cap which is adapted to be snapped over said second shoulder formation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,892,788 Schwartz Ian. 3, 1933 1,983,101 Scribner Dec. 4, 1934 2,663,461 Brown Dec. 22, 1953 2,861,718 Winzen Nov. 25, 1958 2,941,694 Harman June 21, 1960 3,013,700 Steinkamp Dec. 19, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 108,387 Switzerland Feb. 2, 1925 506,060 Great Britain of 1939 

1. A RECLOSABLE DISPENSING PACKAGE COMPRISING A TUBELIKE CONTAINER OF RELATIVELY THIN FLEXIBLE FILM MATERIAL ENCLOSING A QUANTITY OF A FLOWABLE PRODUCT AND HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS EACH GATHERED INTO AN AXIALLY EXTENDING CLOSURE PORTION ENCIRCLED BY A SEALING BAND MEMBER OF RELATIVELY HARD BENDABLE METAL, A DISPENSING DEVICE OF SEVERABLE MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF A COLLAR HAVING THE GENERAL SHAPE OF A TRUNCATED CONE SECURED TO THE EXTERIOR WALL AT ONE END OF THE CONTAINER WITH THE GATHERED END PORTION OF THE CONTAINER PROJECTING THROUGH THE SMALLER END OF THE COLLAR SO THAT SAID GATHERED END PORTION AND ITS SEALING BAND MEMBER MAY BE CUT OFF WITH A PORTION OF THE SMALLER END OF SAID COLLAR TO PROVIDE A DISPENSING OPENING OF A SIZE CORRESPONDING TO THE SIZE OF THE SMALLER END OF THE COLLAR, SAID COLLAR HAVING AN EXTERIOR PERIPHERAL SHOULDER FORMATION, AND A READILY REMOVABLE CLOSURE CAP HAVING A SKIRT ADAPTED TO BE SNAPPED OVER SAID SHOULDER FORMATION, SAID COLLAR BEING OF A MATERIAL HAVING SUBSTANTIAL RIGIDITY AND RETAINING ITS SHAPE WHEN SEVERED BY A CUTTING BLADE WHEREBY TO REINFORCE THE END OF THE CONTAINER AND PROVIDE A FUNNEL-LIKE PRODUCT DISPENSING MEMBER THEREON. 